Who Reacts Like That to Bread?!
"Who reacts like that to bread?!"
Mmm...
On the bed. My body, buried in the fluffy mattress, wriggled on its own.
How long had I slept?
I rubbed my crusty eyes, sat up, stretched my upper body long, and yawned hugely.
Like a cat, my back arched, all my joints popped satisfyingly, and a lazy voice slipped out.
"Ah... I slept so well."
No stiffness anywhere, no discomfort at all.
My ratty old mattress had turned into top-tier luxury that could slap a hotel bed silly.
Kneading is seriously the best...
I blinked my sleepy eyes and grabbed my phone from the nightstand.
The time on the screen made my eyes bulge.
"Whoa... it's already this late? Past lunchtime..."
I'd crashed out early evening yesterday and slept straight through for over ten hours without waking once, like I was knocked out cold.
"Kneading... the explanation's kinda rude, but otherwise, it's perfect."
A little miffed that it doesn't tell the user what effects it has, but this is more than satisfying enough.
Grrrrowl.
Waking up refreshed, my stomach started its loud protest, demanding food.
"I'm starving. What to eat..."
The fridge had leftover chicken from yesterday, but even delicious chicken gets old if you eat it two days in a row.
Chicken's a no-go. I want something light today...
I opened a delivery app and ordered a sandwich—small portion, just right for eating alone.
Even if I had money, my pathetic tiny stomach wouldn't let me chow down on fancy expensive stuff.
Someday... I'll learn to eat like those mukbang YouTubers.
Ding-dong.
The sandwich arrived soon after.
I unwrapped it and took a big bite of the fresh lettuce and ham.
"Mmph... nom."
Chewing away with my tiny mouth, the fist-sized sandwich vanished into my belly clean before I knew it.
Phew... good fight...
I patted my now-bulging pale tummy with my palm.
Still, this was huge progress.
Tiny stomach or not, finishing a whole half-sandwich.
It was just a sandwich, but I felt so proud of myself for polishing it off.
Stomach full and satisfied, now to figure out how to spend the day.
The computer and monitor I ordered yesterday won't ship for a few more days.
No place to blow a ton of cash right now, and lounging in this cramped apartment had its limits.
"Only thing to do is bake bread, huh."
Is this my true calling?
Pre- or post-TS, it's always bread.
Especially after touching that pro-grade equipment yesterday—I wanted to bake every idea that popped into my head.
Gotta set up my own bakery room someday.
Without hesitation, I grabbed my phone and texted Kim Hyunah.
Why's she replying so fast...?
Like a 5-minute response squad or something?
Grateful she's treating me preciously, but it's a bit scary.
Anyway, a reliable steady client offering to buy my bread? No reason to say no.
Didn't wanna relist at auction and get mocked again.
I sent the cheery reply, grabbed an outer layer, and slipped it on.
Checked the mirror, pulled the oversized hood way down to hide my perky white ears tight, and tucked my tail firmly into my pants.
Already uncomfortable, but I'd get used to it quick.
"Let's go."
I took a taxi to Baekya Guild.
Stepping into the lobby, a staffer in a crisp black suit approached, bowed 90 degrees, and greeted me.
"Welcome, Baek Arang. This way, please."
Kim Hyunah must've prepped them thoroughly—no dumb questions or chit-chat.
The staffer escorted me politely and impeccably to the bakery room.
"Call if you need anything."
They opened the door, bowed deeply, and retreated.
Stepping inside, the sparkling clean countertops dazzled my eyes.
How thorough was the cleaning? Like it was brand new.
"Whoa... even more ingredients now."
French flour, New Zealand butter, top-grade eggs.
Way more variety and pricier premium stuff than yesterday, stuffed to bursting.
"Ingredients galore—what to make today..."
Baking the same Morning Bread every day would get boring.
Might as well play around in this huge space all to myself.
"Alright. Baguette today."
Not just any baguette—I'd make it as long as possible.
Longer baguettes get crispier with more air pockets, tastier. Wonder what max length would taste like.
I rolled up my sleeves and dumped flour, water, salt, yeast into a massive stainless bowl in perfect ratios.
"Here we go."
Active Skill: Kneading Lv. 2 activated.
My small, pale hands plunged into the flour dough.
Slap-! Knead knead.
"Grr... hehe... grr."
Purring happily, I pounded the dough mercilessly.
Once Kneading starts, my body moves on autopilot—kneading's just fun.
Leveled up, so my touch felt even smoother, more natural.
For baguette shape, I stretched it long side to side, super long.
The dough stretched out into a massive baguette as long as I was tall.
"Hng... perfect."
Grinning satisfied, I lifted the long dough and sniffed.
Fermentation done in one go—super convenient.
Tried sliding the long dough into the oven, but... problem.
It wouldn't fit...
Stretched it too dumbly long—even this huge industrial oven couldn't take it straight.
"Too bad... if the oven was bigger, I could've baked it straight..."
Licking my lips regretfully, I grabbed both ends and curved it into a circle.
Ended up as a giant U-shape, like a massive horseshoe baguette, on the oven pan and in it went.
Click.
Twisted the dial, set the temp.
Sat in the chair by the oven, swinging my legs, waiting for it to bake.
Time passed.
The bakery filled with the savory aroma of toasting flour crisping up.
Beep beep!
At the cheery done signal, I yanked on thick mitts and flung the oven door wide.
Whoooosh-
Hot blast out, revealing the golden-crispy massive U-baguette in majestic glory.
The smell is insane...
Amazed, I carefully transferred the giant to the cutting board.
"Looks even bigger up close..."
That uncle who stole bread and went to jail said his was this big too...
I grabbed the bread knife and sliced off the crisp end bits.
Baguettes shatter if you punch 'em—ruins the tasty crust. Skipped testing.
"Let's eat."
As I brought the warm slice to my mouth, a prickly stare hit my back.
What the?
Felt like someone was boring holes in my head.
Slice in hand, I turned to the bakery door.
Through the half-open steel door, a stranger woman leaned casually, legs crossed.
Snow-white silver hair, voluptuous curves straining her buttons—she grinned wide at me, lips stretched ear to ear.
Pervert...?
"Who... are you?"
I flinched back warily, and she beamed, striding right in.
Her red eyes flashed at my baguette slice.
"Hey! The smell pulled me in like a trance. Mind if I try a bit of that?"
First time seeing her, but she's Baekya Guild, so probably fine?
Potential customer wants a taste—can't just refuse.
"Oh, sure, go ahead."
Casually offered the fresh slice.
"Yay! Thanks."
She snatched it grinning huge.
No hesitation—she chomped a big bite.
Crunch-
Crispy shell shattered crisply as her jaw worked.
Then, mid-chew, she froze like a statue.
"Um...? Is it bad?"
Why's she like that...?
Ate bread and froze? Tastes bad?
I asked carefully, and her pale face flushed beet red like it might explode.
"Hnnng... haa..."
Hot, sticky breaths leaked from her parted lips, drool trickling down her chin.
"Haa... this is so good it's tingling all over... hnng..."
Her eyes lost focus, rolling up slightly.
Her voluptuous body shivered like waves, goosebumps rising.
I clutched my bread tight and backed away fast from her panting, drooling like she was high as a kite.
Who pants like a druggie from one bite of bread!
Definite pervert.